NPL's commercial services are built on 100 years of leadership in accuracy, innovation and scientific research. Experienced consultants and project managers draw upon a unique combination of industry know-how and world-leading scientific discovery to deliver real-world business solutions and enable innovation and secure competitive advantage.

We strive to actively promote public awareness and appreciation of science and technology, particularly the importance of measurement and the role of NPL. Here you can find out more about the interesting things we do, science outreach activities you can get involved in or take a look at some of our educational resources.

Big Bang features NPL bubbles

NPL's award-winning bubble exhibit features at the Big Bang Fair from 14-17 March 2013 at London's ExCeL.

Visit the NPL stand at the Big Bang Fair to have a go at playing this 'bubble organ' (photographed at the Royal Society's Summer Exhibition 2012)

The exhibit, POP! The Sound of Bubbles, introduces the science of bubbles. You can see bubbles being made, see how you can use them to create music, and you can also find out about how microbubbles can help diagnose cancer.

When the exhibit was first shown, at the prestigious Royal Society Summer Exhibition in 2012, it was voted the most popular stand - with over 11,000 visitors in one week. As a result, the exhibit's creators - NPL scientists Gianluca Memoli, Ian Butterworth and Christian Baker - won a Serco Divisional Pulse Award.

This exhibit highlights the work NPL is doing with University College London and the University of Oxford on a major project involving the use of microbubbles as sensors.

Watch the video below for an introduction to the science of bubbles by NPL's resident bubble specialist Gianluca Memoli:

You can keep up-to-date with what's going on at the exhibit's blog (active till March 2013).

The Big Bang Fair is a free educational event for young people interested in science and engineering. It is open to schools visits on the 14 and 15 March, and open to families on 16 and 17 March. It is expected that ~80,000 visitors will attend the event, which hosts ~200 exhibits.